Friday, March 23, 2012

High Feast -- High Meal

In Benedictine communities, one can determine a feast day by the meal that is prepared and served. The higher the feast, the more elaborate the meal.

Below are a few photos of the ambience and steak meal the students enjoyed for the Solemnity of the Passing of St. Benedict on March 21, 2012. This was the noon meal -- served for the whole community of Mount Michael. The monks celebrated later that day with an appropriate meal after Second Vespers of the Solemnity!

Providing a meal like this is practicing hospitality and for Benedictines the dining room and meals are really extensions of the Chapel and the Eucharistic meal.

I would imagine -- if most students were asked-- they would say they enjoyed this meal. I, personally, know that that is what Kenny Batenhorst said.

Ever since I wrote an article entitled, Fearing Failure, I have had lots of people tell me that it was very helpful for them or that they could identify with it. As a result of that feedback, all of this has caused me to do much thinking. I am reminded of a phrase that I recall from Henri Nouwen – “the more personal – the more universal.”
I am presenting a series of articles related to vocational discernment, personal stories from members of the Mount Michael Community, and generally vocation-related topics.
I hope some of this material is helpful and if nothing else interesting.